Canter's Deli

Have been coming here since I was in my early 20’s but since moving away from the area have been craving it. I happened to be in the area and decided to stop and satisfy my craving. Got the 2 pastrami sandwich one for me and one for the Mrs who has never been here. I also got a brisket sandwich with the Cole slaw and potato salad and don’t forget the pickles. Just as I remembered them. All their bakery items sandwiches were delicious and the Mrs enjoyed it so much she ate hers and ate the other half of mine the next day. Definitely give them a try if in the area. Place is nice and staff friendly.

Teri Elizabeth

my man and I came here for lunch and it was great. we got a Reuben with onion rings, and a grilled cheese with fries and we split both. it was great! our server was Jimmy and he was on the spot. last time I came here, the server wasn’t great or even nice and the food wasn’t perfect, but this time everything was great. you do have to pay for parking somehow but the lot was easy to use and we got in and out quickly. we have some more gift certificates and can’t wait to be back.

Mike-O Vaca

The place is outdated and its hard find parking but the food and the service more than make up for it. I prefer coming here rather than Langers deli. The pastrami here is unlike no other. The prices are also reasonable. The onion rings are to die for. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. We did not have to wait for a table when we arrived. There were plenty of tables available. This place is first class all the way u will absolutely love it!

Jim Manley

I had a reuben and fries, and they provided a plate of pickles to snack on. I enjoyed everything. Service was fast, staff were great and the atmosphere is classic. I also picked up some black and white cookies to take with me at the bakery counter. Busy place, but they keep things moving. Canter's bakery and restaurant will validate parking for the lot on the corner.

Gimacus Burns

Canter’s in Fairfax is phenomenal! I tried the pastrami sandwich with a side of pickles! I am very picky when it comes to good quality meats and I have to say this is the best pastrami sandwich I’ve eve had. And they also make their own pickles which were “icing on the cake” of a delicious lunch! Add Canter’s to your list today!

Rosalia Larios

Relaxing/jovial environment…excellent corned beef, pastrami…smoked salmon plate is well dressed and a generous portion. Upbeat staff is knowledgeable and accommodating. Free parking for 1.5 hrs.

Allan Alcantara

We had a young great waiter named Jimmy. He was polite and attentive. The food is always good, I've yet to have a bad meal at Canters. I'm from the OC and didn't discover it till the late 90's. But it's my son's favorite birthday spot because he loves their Monte Cristo, is a tradition!!! My pics will speak on the food, huge portions of delicious food!!! And I tried their Irish Coffee this time, most places serve you coffee with a shot or two Canters puts the Irish into it with Creme de Mint and some green food coloring on top.

Ayidh AlQahtani

Canter’s Deli is a true Los Angeles classic! The pastrami was absolutely delicious and perfectly seasoned. The garden salad was fresh and generous, with a great dressing that complemented the meal nicely.

Genevieve Grenier

My favorite gem in LA. Every time I’m sick, my boyfriend gets me matzah ball soup, and it really is magical Jewish penicillin. It always makes me feel better. I dream about the chocolate rugelach. Delicious baked goods. Amazing service, Canter’s family-owned and they really do everything with love!

Frances Pratt

Such a legendary spot. We went on a Tuesday morning and it wasn't too bad but I can tell that place gets super busy! There is such a huge menu, but every single item on it is really made with love and detail. Bathrooms are upstairs so plan for that. Service was super charming not only by the waitress but the deli and bakery counter too.

Anna V Garibay

Amazingly flavorful pastrami sandwiches without the grease. Exceptional cherry pie. I had the pastrami sandwiches without and absolutely loved it. It’s about $20. Not too big. The pickles are homemade but not my favorite. The coleslaw is pretty good. Not as drippy and sweet as others. They have four types of mustard! I love mustard! The cherry pie here is a dream come true. They have a complete bakery! So many choices! If you love the diner feel and aesthetic this is your spot. It’s open late too! Canters is a unique place with tons of things going on. The table next to us was interesting. One of the diners had a bondage harness on. Not a dull moment. The ceiling is trippy. This place is an eyeful! As much as I loved Canter’s I didn’t like their music. Classic rock this night….meh. Our server was on point and sweet! They have a parking lot!

Joe Gomez

Have been coming here since I was in my early 20’s but since moving away from the area have been craving it. I happened to be in the area and decided to stop and satisfy my craving. Got the 2 pastrami sandwich one for me and one for the Mrs who has never been here. I also got a brisket sandwich with the Cole slaw and potato salad and don’t forget the pickles. Just as I remembered them. All their bakery items sandwiches were delicious and the Mrs enjoyed it so much she ate hers and ate the other half of mine the next day. Definitely give them a try if in the area. Place is nice and staff friendly.

Food was delicious. Our waitress was so friendly and amazing. The olace is a little dated, but I feel like it needs to be for it's charm and history. The man at the bakery was the sweetest. He gave me samples and was so friendly.

We dined in. The food was delicious. I had the brisket dip on sourdough with Muenster cheese. 10/10. The pickles that they served at the start of the meal were amazing but there was one bad pickle that was squishy. The strawberry cheesecake that I took to go was 6/10. The Onion Ring appetizer had a nice beer batter and the onions were sweet. 10/10...I purchased a Groupon to eat here $50 for $25. I would definitely go back for the sandwich and the nice gentleman at the register who helped us with our Groupon, however our server was probably close to one of the worst servers I have ever had anywhere and I'm not going to mention her by name. I was in the service industry for over 25 years, so I'm not sure how she has a job. In other notes, when we arrived there were very few tables and we were seated in the back away from everybody and there was a party of people that seemed like they might be regulars and someone immediately brought them coffee and water while our party of two was never greeted until we flagged somebody down and we were seated ahead of them. I give it 5/10 for atmosphere. I worked at a well-known Jewish deli in Florida for 3 years and I was interested in trying this to see how it compares. The only thing that I was impressed by was the flavor of the sandwich. I would say it is worth making the 30-minute drive that we did if you love brisket but I was otherwise underwhelmed.

Manuel Jimenez

Tatiana was polite and efficient in serving my meal at Canters. I had the matzah ball soup, hot pastrami, and strawberry cheesecake. The meal was delicious and the service was great as well. I was able to find parking in Canters parking lot so everything was great all around. Best pastrami I’ve ever had and the cheesecake is rich and creamy. I always look forward to coming to Canters when I’m in LA.

We live around the corner and recently started to come here. The meat is tasty, the bakery nice and we usually are seated quickly. We ordered the Hollywood and the Jersey city which we were mildly disappointed with the cut and size given our first impression of the hot pastrami sandwich and its portion size. Kind of a let down especially with the extra piece of bread and definitely would not order either again if they are presented that way. Otherwise we like coming here and will continue to just probably order something else.

The strawberry cheesecake was by far the best cheesecake ive had in a very long time. I do wish that the crust was a little thicker cuz I'm a crust gal but that's neither here nor there and I also had a chocolate cupcake which I didn't need but it was very delicious and nonetheless. I've only had the opportunity to visit the bakery.

It's Canter's. Always a line, service on their terms, prices reasonable, and fantastic food. Dimly lit, unimpressive and ancient interior, wait to pay at the cashier, and (again) fantastic food. Wheelchair accessible, kid friendly, don't bring your dog. It's an institution. Go.

Naomi

We live around the corner and recently started to come here. The meat is tasty, the bakery nice and we usually are seated quickly. We ordered the Hollywood and the Jersey city which we were mildly disappointed with the cut and size given our first impression of the hot pastrami sandwich and its portion size. Kind of a let down especially with the extra piece of bread and definitely would not order either again if they are presented that way. Otherwise we like coming here and will continue to just probably order something else.

Shaniqua B

The strawberry cheesecake was by far the best cheesecake ive had in a very long time. I do wish that the crust was a little thicker cuz I'm a crust gal but that's neither here nor there and I also had a chocolate cupcake which I didn't need but it was very delicious and nonetheless. I've only had the opportunity to visit the bakery.

Maurice Perkins

I really love this place. I normally go for a late night meal but I've come for lunch and breakfast as well. Everything I've ordered has been good. I usually get either the pastrami or corned beef but my personal favorite is the pastrami dip. They also have a deli and bakery. Some of my favorites are the salmon and cream cheese spread, but also have to get some fresh bagels. I also really enjoy the cheesecake. It's my aunt's favorite and I normally grab her a slice whenever I'm in the area. Definitely one of LA's staples

Andrew DeRaps

Manager was kind and very friendly, good cam out quick and delicious. The prices feel a bit high but the quality of the food balanced it out. This location is more like an old school delli while the other location appear to be more of a restaurant .

Bev Lazo

From Boyle Heights to the Fairfax District @canters_deli has been serving up authentic Deli Style food since 1931. After all these years I finally had a chance to experience the iconic Deli and their amazing food. Loved the atmosphere and the company. A great way to spend time in this part of Los Angeles.

Trapped in historic mid century decor, Cantor's Deli's humble Boyle Heights roots began their LA institution of Jewish delicatessen in the Fairfax District in the late 1940s from their 1931 origin as the community established itself across town. LA's Jewish community and cultural roots are well displayed by their wonderful cuisine. Canter's has kept the charm and taste embedded in what we know now as historical. Lively during busy days and hours, you can find an excellent deli sandwich and many other traditional cuisines. The menu is long, and the staples are always delicious. Pastrami and Corned Beef are the popular go-to items. Various combinations are also excellent. Breakfast items can be skewed into lunch for whatever your fancy is. The Bakery selection and Desserts are also a crowd favorite. Parking is mostly street, but there is a marked lot just south of the restaurant's location. Be prepared for a short wait on weekend hours. They are open for late-night diners, making this spot a great default for a hearty meal.

Our original waiter brought water and disappeared so Jeanette stepped in and she was great. I had a turkey ruben with kettle chips; the turkey was dry, but the chips were very good. I think I expected more from such a historic restaurant.

The shining stars of this experience were the staff. So warm and welcoming, with a great attitude and quick and courteous service. That being said, I would say the food is just mediocre, especially for the money. We had a Groupon, which made it barely worth it. I would not pay full price for this meal. The pastrami sandwich was simply bread and meat, quite unremarkable. The matzoh ball soup was simply soup and the dumpling, no noodles, celery, or carrots like I'm used to my grandmother making decades ago. The bagels and lox was OK, the bagel was certainly fresh, but I would've liked to have some additional condiments such as bell peppers and cucumbers. Again the staff was wonderful, even offering a small pastry when we paid the check as an apology for a slight delay, which wasn't really an inconvenience at all but certainly a nice gesture. The atmosphere was a bit dark, but nostalgic which I didn't mind, kind of a 70s vibe. It was nice to have ample free parking with validation

Heather S.

Our original waiter brought water and disappeared so Jeanette stepped in and she was great. I had a turkey ruben with kettle chips; the turkey was dry, but the chips were very good. I think I expected more from such a historic restaurant.

L AGS

The shining stars of this experience were the staff. So warm and welcoming, with a great attitude and quick and courteous service. That being said, I would say the food is just mediocre, especially for the money. We had a Groupon, which made it barely worth it. I would not pay full price for this meal. The pastrami sandwich was simply bread and meat, quite unremarkable. The matzoh ball soup was simply soup and the dumpling, no noodles, celery, or carrots like I'm used to my grandmother making decades ago. The bagels and lox was OK, the bagel was certainly fresh, but I would've liked to have some additional condiments such as bell peppers and cucumbers. Again the staff was wonderful, even offering a small pastry when we paid the check as an apology for a slight delay, which wasn't really an inconvenience at all but certainly a nice gesture. The atmosphere was a bit dark, but nostalgic which I didn't mind, kind of a 70s vibe. It was nice to have ample free parking with validation

An old iconic LA landmark that has gone downhill. I remember Canters Deli being one of the best delis in LA. Sadly that is no longer true. We ordered sandwiches & A couple tuna melts with Onion rings. For $23 the tuna melts were completely disappointing! They don’t even use bread of a regular size, but some kind of mini loaf so the whole sandwich was about the size of a half sandwich. Bread was so hard and stale you could barely bite through it. The crust was completely hard as a rock and literally impossible to bite through. The tuna salad didn’t even have any onions or celery. It was just tuna with mayo, The tuna was the lowest quality tuna I’ve ever had. I would think that they would at least have had albacore tuna. It was the worst waste of money ever!!! Do yourself a favor & go to any of the many delis that LA has that actually have eatable food.

danusha 3

An old iconic LA landmark that has gone downhill. I remember Canters Deli being one of the best delis in LA. Sadly that is no longer true. We ordered sandwiches & A couple tuna melts with Onion rings. For $23 the tuna melts were completely disappointing! They don’t even use bread of a regular size, but some kind of mini loaf so the whole sandwich was about the size of a half sandwich. Bread was so hard and stale you could barely bite through it. The crust was completely hard as a rock and literally impossible to bite through. The tuna salad didn’t even have any onions or celery. It was just tuna with mayo, The tuna was the lowest quality tuna I’ve ever had. I would think that they would at least have had albacore tuna. It was the worst waste of money ever!!! Do yourself a favor & go to any of the many delis that LA has that actually have eatable food.